CV length is far more important than most people realise.
Some people think that ‘more is more,’ but this isn’t the case with CVs.
A quality CV in the optimum length can present your case to employers far more powerfully and dramatically boost your job prospects.
Conversely, the wrong length can seriously dent your odds of success in the executive job market.
Well, your CV is a sales and marketing document (or at least it should be). The longer your CV is, the less enticing it is to read, and the more potentially off-putting it is for employers. Most people understand this, and these days most CVs are two pages maximum (although some people still apply for executive jobs with longer CVs).
There are a lot of misconceptions over the best length for a CV. This is partly because many people:
- Don’t understand the fundamentals behind CVs.
- Fail to grasp the sales and marketing aspect.
- Don’t even know that it’s possible to write concisely, yet powerfully (let alone pull it off themselves!).
Most advisors agree that concise is best. Strangely though, many of those who extoll the superior benefits of concise CVs, still advocate standard two-page CVs!
The reason for this has nothing to do with sales and marketing, but far more to do with the fact that most people (and professional CV companies come to that) struggle big-time when it comes to writing concisely. Indeed, they struggle so much that most don’t even try.
Yes, it is certainly possible to write concisely, although it is far from easy if you want to do it well.
It should be noted that not all 1-page CVs are made equal! As it happens, while most clients send us failing longer CVs, we receive lots of one-page CVs to fix as well. These tend to be in one of two camps:
- Something minimalistic and basic that doesn’t really sell.
- Something that is very busy and cluttered that isn’t enticing to read and has overcomplicated sales and central messaging.
Naturally, neither of the above scenarios are ideal, and the best one-page CVs are not only neat, legible and easy on the eye, but they also sell powerfully to boot.
It sounds simple, but nothing could be further from the truth. In fact it’s a highly elusive, very special skill, and the fact that we are world leaders in this is one big reason why executive clients come to us from all around the world (many by personal recommendation).
Having lots of experience is one common reason why some executives, directors and C-level professionals end up with long and complex CVs. Many worry that if they don’t include chronicle their career in fine detail then it’ll count against them.
It shouldn’t, and for a big (and very simple) reason; namely that employers are not interested in every last detail. On the contrary, employers are far more interested about hearing things they want to hear, and in the way they want to hear it (pertinently, concisely and powerfully).
Well, besides the fact that we’ve been helping executives for nigh on a quarter of a century, Paul conducted tests with the likes of employers and HR executives during the research for his pioneering CV book.
Employers are far more interested in succinct CVs that tie in with the job on offer than they are with long and convoluted CVs that include every last detail.
Of course, you do need detail, and you do need to sell. But you also need to strike the right balance. Most people (and CV firms come to that) don’t do this, which is why most CVs are either too basic or too complex.
Our CVs include detail, and not just any old detail, but the right detail that target employers want to hear. What’s more we strategically include it clearly and legibly and in a high-impact manner.
Most clients are surprised and delighted at just what we fit (neatly) into one page. Indeed, we tend to include all the main information in one-page (just more succinctly, legibly and powerfully).
We give our clients choice over CV length.
Most opt for our one-page CV, and some opt for two pages. Once in a blue moon someone will ask for 3 pages. We can work to your preference. At the same time, we are honest and upfront and wouldn’t be doing you any favours if we didn’t point out that nothing stands out like a well-written one-page CV.
Most clients fully understand this, but some are a tad doubtful that we can fit everything in one page, as such, some clients order both 1-page and 2-page CVs (and we heavily discount the second length CV).
If you’d like to take advantage of this just let your consultant know.